Class: MAMMALIA

Order: CINGULATA

Family: CHLAMYPHORIDAE

Genus: EUPHRACTUS

Species: SEXCINCTUS

This species of armadillo is the only member of its genus. As its name implies, the animal typically has six movable bands on its body, though sometimes seven. Its ruddy colouration also sometimes gives it the name of the ‘Yellow Armadillo’. It is the third-largest species of armadillo at or exceeding 40 centimetres – smaller only than the Greater Long-nosed or Kappler’s Armadillo [Dasypus kappleri, 80 – 100 cm] and the Giant Armadillo [Pridontes maximus, which is about the same length as Kappler’s Armadillo, albeit more massive]. Its closest relative is the Big Hairy Armadillo, which belongs to a different genus. [Chaetophractus villosus; which, despite the name, reaches sizes of only 3.4 centimetres in length compared to the six-banded armadillo] The two species diverged some 8 million years ago – and are believed to be some of the earliest armadillos have done so.

The six-banded armadillo is found across a wide range of Eastern South America, south of the Amazon Basin – its northernmost point encompassing a small area of southern Suriname – its westernmost point fairly close to the Andean Mountains of Bolivia, its southernmost point at the south coast of Uruguay. The points are generalization – regardless of these extremes, it inhabits a wide range across the continent. Its wide range is probably because it is well-suited to a variety of habitats – mainly dictated by where smooth soil exists to dig. It is not found in rough mountainous terrain – where it is unable to do so. Whilst it is capable of living in the tropical rainforest, it appears to prefer grassland, where the soil is more firm and conditions are less extreme. Its wide occurrence means that it is also capable of making habitat on agricultural land – an aspect which deems armadillos an agricultural pest. In addition, armadillos may also be killed for food, or for their shells as ornamentation. Whilst persecution may exist in some areas where it is considered as such, most armadillos do not live on agricultural land – and so live without persecution. As such, the six-banded armadillo is not considered to be in immediate danger of extinction, and its population is considered stable.

The six-banded armadillo, like other armadillos, possesses a hard shell which allows good protection from potential predators. Its belly, however, unlike that of turtles, lacks a firm carapace – it is skinny and hairy, meaning that it is the most vulnerable part of the animal, and an upturned six-banded armadillo is an animal most at risk of being killed. It has five sharp claws, which are used for digging and defense from predators and rival armadillos. As is the case in other burrowing mammals such as aardvarks, most of the muscle power with digging is stored within the front legs. The muscles of the back legs are firm, and used mainly for stabilization when the animal is digging. Once it has dug a burrow, it will give off an odour at the entrance to mark its territory. The animal’s eyes are small, and it does not rely greatly on coloured vision. It is mainly diurnal, though may also be active at night-time. Its ears are relatively large compared to the rest of the head, and allow, similarly to aardvarks, to allow for location of insects to eat [though they also consume vegetation], as does their strong sense of smell. Like other armadillos, it has a low rate of metabolism, and a low body temperature. Six-banded Armadillos mature at about 9 months of age, with a mating season which coincides with the beginning of the wet season, though they may also breed into the dry season of winter. After a gestation period of 2 months or so, the mother armadillo will return to the burrow to give birth to 3 or so pups, which will stay in the burrow for about 3 months afterwards. It may sometimes be exported for foreign captivity – though, with a sustainable breeding record in captivity, little reason exists to do so. In captivity, armadillos fare well in a darkened environment, on a diverse diet based on cat or dog food, but with supplemented food items.